SYDNEY - A new program by the YMCA of Cape Breton is intended to help people who want to improve their fitness and maintain their motivation.
The 12-week Body Challenge program began Monday and it will continue until mid-April.
"What it involves is personal training sessions, seminars, that kind of thing," noted personal trainer Deborah Hann. "It's a way to get information out there to some people. This time of year we see a lot of fitness new year resolutions, the gym is always packed, classes are always full and people after the first few weeks they're really excited, then the desire and motivation starts to wear off."
The program is intended to get people past that hump until they start to see the results of their work.
"Usually it takes about eight weeks to see some results," Hann said.
The program attracted 36 participants - the YMCA had originally intended to cap it at 30 but managed to accommodate a few additional people.
It includes 12 weekly personal training sessions, a weekly e-mail newsletter and an online support group.
"Each participant is assigned to a certified personal trainer, that trainer will meet with them once a week," Hann said. "Not everyone is in it to lose weight, some people are in it to build some muscle, tone certain areas."
Trainers will develop personalized programs for the participants, take them through the exercises to ensure they're doing them correctly and avoid injuries and provide some extra motivation.
"I find the more comfortable somebody is with the actual exercise and the actual facilities, the equipment, the more likely they would be to stick with it," Hann said. "A big thing that I've had from most people that I've talked to, having somebody waiting for you to show up at the gym helps those who have trouble finding motivation."
The program is also expected to include workshops on topics including fitness nutrition and stress management, which Hann noted are all important components of a healthy lifestyle. There are weigh-in and measurements taken at the beginning and end of the program.
"It's really important to be able to show them (their results), some people may only lose 10 pounds, but hey, you lost seven inches off your waist and that's a huge deal," Hann said. "We want to do the measurement as well, not just the standing on a scale."